Trash & Recycling in Bayonne, NJ (2026)
9 verified trash & recycling rules for Bayonne, New Jersey, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Bayonne limits who may pick up recyclables: once leaves, newspapers, glass, cans, cardboard or paper are set at a designated collection site they become City property under § 26-1.5, and only the City, its contractors, or organizations holding a Public Works and Parks drop-off permit under § 26-1.4 may collect them. Unauthorized pickup (scavenging) draws at least a $100 fine per incident.
Bayonne Recycling Pickup Authorization Rules
Significant RestrictionsBayonne City Code § 26-1.4, § 26-1.5
The Department of Public Works and Parks shall, upon receipt of a completed and approved application, issue permits to any person, civic, fraternal, non-profit or for-profit organization, authorizing drop-off collection points for the aggregation of certain specific recyclable materials. Issuance of a permit shall not, however, authorize these parties to pick-up or collect specific recyclable m...
Bin Placement Rules
Bayonne bans open or overflowing waste bins under City Code § 3-2.8 and requires garbage in sturdy, handled containers holding between 10 and 35 gallons, with refuse bagged before it goes in the container.
Bayonne Garbage Bin and Container Rules
Some RestrictionsBayonne City Code § 3-2.8
It shall be unlawful for any residential or commercial property owner to permit open or overflowing waste disposal bins on his or her property or to fail to secure waste materials inside those bins in a manner which causes them to overflow. All garbage, refuse and ashes for collection by the City shall be placed in sturdy metal or plastic containers meeting such standards and specifications as ...
Bulk Item Disposal
Bayonne collects bulk waste, like furniture, appliances and mattresses, on the same day as regular garbage under City Code § 3-2.1, but caps every pickup at four bulky items, and construction or demolition debris is excluded and must go through a private hauler.
Bayonne Bulk Item Pickup Limits
Some RestrictionsBayonne City Code § 3-2.1
BULK WASTE ... a. Large items of waste material that are nonmetal, including but not limited to: 1. Appliances; 2. Furniture: sofas, tables, chairs, beds and other wood furniture (even though there may be some incidental metal pieces attached to the furniture, i.e., wooden chair/table with metal legs); ... 7. Tree parts cut into sections with a maximum height of four feet, tree stumps cut into ...
Recycling Requirements
Bayonne runs a mandatory source-separation recycling program under Bayonne City Code § 26-1.3, requiring every dwelling unit and business to separate leaves for composting, newspapers, glass and aluminum beverage containers, and, for commercial and institutional generators, corrugated cardboard and high-grade paper, from the regular trash for curbside collection.
Bayonne Mandatory Recycling Separation Program
Some RestrictionsBayonne City Code §§ 26-1.3, 26-1.9, 26-1.10
There is hereby established a mandatory program for the source separation of the following: leaves, for the purpose of composting; newspapers, glass food and beverage containers, and all aluminum beverage cans from the solid waste generated within the City, and corrugated cardboard and high grade paper from the solid waste generated by commercial and industrial establishments and public or priv...
Illegal Dumping
City Code § 3-2.3.a bars dumping household or commercial solid waste, rubbish, junk, vehicles, tires, appliances or furniture along any Bayonne street or right-of-way, or on private property, outside a spot specifically designated for waste storage or disposal.
Bayonne Illegal Dumping Penalties
Significant RestrictionsBayonne City Code § 3-2.3.a
It shall be unlawful for any person to discard or dump along any street or road, on or off any right-of-way or on private property, any household or commercial solid waste, rubbish, refuse, junk, vehicle or vehicle parts, rubber tires, appliances or furniture in any place not specifically designated for the purpose of solid waste storage or disposal.
Yard Waste Collection
Bayonne requires residents to source-separate leaves for composting under City Code § 26-1.3, placing them at Recycling Coordinator-designated pickup sites or in authorized containers. The code separately defines yard waste as grass clippings, hedge trimmings, twigs and branches, but only leaves fall under the mandatory composting program; brush and cut limbs are handled through bulk waste collection instead.
Bayonne Yard Waste and Leaf Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsBayonne City Code §§ 26-1.2, 26-1.3
LEAVES Shall mean specifically foliage from plants and trees only. ... YARD WASTE Shall mean and include grass clippings, hedge trimmings, twigs, sticks, branches and/or shrubbery. ... (b) By placing leaves on the day or days to be established at the designated collection of pick-up sites to be determined by the City, or its authorized agent, for composting in accordance with all applicable reg...
Dumpster Rules
The City of Bayonne requires every dumpster or refuse container left outdoors to stay covered at all times and bars any liquid, semi-liquid or solid discharge into the municipal storm sewer system. Bayonne City Code § 30-12 sets escalating fines starting at $1,250 for uncovered or leaking containers.
Bayonne Dumpster Cover and Discharge Rule
Some RestrictionsBayonne City Code § 30-12
§ 30-12.1. Purpose. ... The purpose of this section is to require dumpsters and other refuse containers that are outdoors or exposed to stormwater to be covered at all times and prohibits the spilling, dumping, leaking, or otherwise discharge of liquids, semi-liquids or solids from the containers to the municipal separate storm sewer system(s) or combined sewer system operated by the City of Ba...
Collection Schedule
The Recycling Coordinator sets Bayonne's collection days and pick-up sites for leaves, newspapers, glass and aluminum containers under City Code § 26-1.7, and must publish the schedule in the official newspaper for at least 14 days, starting 15 days before the first pickup. Notice may also go out by mailed flyer to every dwelling and institution in the City.
Bayonne Recycling Collection Schedule Notice Rules
Light RestrictionsBayonne City Code § 26-1.7
The Recycling Coordinator of the City shall establish the day/days of collection and the collection or pick-up sites designated for the collection of leaves for the purpose of composting, newspapers, glass food and beverage containers, and aluminum beverage cans, or any other designated recyclable materials, for the purpose of recycling and composting. ... Notification of the designated collect...
Recycling Rules
Bayonne's Chapter 26 recycling ordinance makes source separation mandatory, not optional: every dwelling, business and institution must pull leaves, newspapers, glass and aluminum beverage containers, and (for commercial/institutional generators) cardboard and high-grade paper out of the regular trash under City Code § 26-1.3. Each material carries its own bundling and container rules, and violators face fines up to $1,250.
Bayonne Mandatory Recycling Source-Separation Rules
Some RestrictionsBayonne City Code § 26-1.3
There is hereby established a mandatory program for the source separation of the following: leaves, for the purpose of composting; newspapers, glass food and beverage containers, and all aluminum beverage cans from the solid waste generated within the City, and corrugated cardboard and high grade paper from the solid waste generated by commercial and industrial establishments and public or priv...